THEOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF POST ABORTION HEALING
The assumption underlying the Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat is that it is God who is doing the work. Its dominant focus is to prepare the soil for the seed of God’s healing power to bear fruit. The Retreat embodies Dr. Theresa Burke’s words:

‘You have to empty the grief before you can receive the grace.’

For this to be done effectively in such a sensitive area, skilled leaders are mandatory. There is a facilitator together with a counselor or psycho-therapist or psychologist.

Again, there is something very powerful about the group aspect of the retreat. Perhaps for women and men affected by abortion, feelings of shame, grief or guilt have so eroded the sense of self, that they can only move towards self-acceptance and healing if they are accepted by others. ‘Seeing differently’ and the effects of divine forgiveness and healing are much deeper and broader if they are shared.

From Grief to Grace. Rev Dr Tom Ryan.
Originally published in the Australasian Catholic Record 86 (2009): 200-211.

Fr Tom Ryan (PhD)
Tel: (07) 3252 1556
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